Archive for June, 2012

What is your least favorite household chore? Did you just say cleaning blinds? It’s right up there with cleaning the oven, isn’t it. Fear not, cleaning blinds doesn’t have to be tedious anymore. Follow these quick tips and your blinds will look fabulous.

Vacuum your blinds weekly. Yes, weekly. Close the slats before you start. This way you clean more surface area. Vacuuming weekly will go a long way in keeping your blinds clean and dirt free.

Spot clean – fingerprints and dirt build up may require more than just vacuuming. Use a damp cloth or sponge to remove stubborn stains. Make sure you wipe the blinds dry to prevent water spotting.

Bath your blinds – when vacuuming and spot cleaning are not doing the trick take your blinds down and immerse them in your bathtub. Add dishwashing soap to the water. Never dunk wooden blinds or blinds with decorative tape, you’ll destroy them. Be sure to towel dry.

Get rid of the dingy – use white shoe polish on cording, ropes and taped areas if bathing and vacuuming don’t help. Yes, it seems like cheating but at least your blinds will look terrific.

Even though we have added another “to do” item to your weekly cleaning list, we think that it will help you keep your home looking beautiful.

I have golden oak cabinets and almond counter tops, what type and color of back splash would you recommend to give my kitchen a more updated look?

There are a few things to consider when planning a backsplash so start with asking yourself these questions:

1. Do you want the tile to blend or contrast with the other items in the kitchen?

2. How much room do you have? If you plan to keep an existing backsplash that’s part of the countertop, this limits the amount of space you have to work with.

3. Do you want the backsplash to be practical or a design element in your kitchen?

4. What colors do you want to add or pull out from your existing decor? Do you want to add a warm or cool color palette?

After you’ve answered these questions, consider glass tiles or large format tiles to give you an updated look.

If you still aren’t sure and need a visual, check out our virtual room designer. You can try on different looks here, to get an idea if you like large or small tiles, contrasting colors or tiles that blend.

The primary color red is one of the strongest colors on the color wheel. Red can intimidate some people for its bold, rich color. Small doses of red can be used as an accent color to spice up a room. Buying or painting a single accent piece of red furniture is a fun way to add a pop of red to a room.

A red chair or ottoman in a living room or a red console table in the entry will create a focal point. Red accents can be in furniture, rugs, lamps or soft accessories like pillows and throws. A red bowl on the dining table or kitchen counter is a nice way to incorporate the color into a room. Even a bowl of red apples can add a little burst of red to a kitchen.

If you want to make a bigger statement, use red on furniture or the walls. Red area rugs or multicolor rugs that have red in the pattern are less overwhelming than red walls.

Red painted furniture can be done with spray paint or traditional oil based paints for furniture. To get a good saturated color, multiple layers will need to be applied. A red lacquer is great for its deep color and hard surface—perfect for a coffee table or dining table. The shiny, glossy surface of lacquer can be imitated with a high gloss enamel paint. Durable enamel paint is a good choice for chairs and surfaces that will get a lot of wear.